After a two-month hiatus, florists are back in business
After nearly two months of lockdown and following a seemingly endless wait, florists are finally allowed to reopen as part of the reopening plan! Amid hopes, apprehensions, and safety measures, the Sessile collective spoke with Acanthus in Bègles, BO Design Floral in Paris, and Gilles Sonnet in Dijon to gather their thoughts on the eve of this long-awaited milestone.
This“back-to-school season”feels particularly strange for florists: locked down like the rest of the population, it has now been nearly two months since they’ve been able to welcome customers into their shops. It’s an even stranger back-to-school season because they haven’t received any guidelines other than the government’s health guidelines: “We’re kind of in uncharted territory because we haven’t received any specific guidelines for our reopening, so we’re organizing things as best we can while following the government’s recommendations on safety measures,” explains Fabrice, florist and founder ofAcanthus in Bègles. “But I trust everyone to act responsibly!”
I find my bouquet of flowers
For Olivier, founder of the studio BO Design Floral in Paris’s 20th arrondissement, this reopening is just the first step. “Personally, I continued to deliver my creations throughout the Paris region during the lockdown. The problem is that many of my business clients haven’t reopened yet, particularly in the hospitality industry; and let’s not forget that people will continue to work from home for a few more weeks.”
A beautiful bouquet of 100 roses created by Gilles Sonnet for a birthday
Take all necessary precautions in the store to prevent the spread of infection
Despite the reopening, florists are still being cautious about the risk of transmission and are taking every precaution to ensure their customers’ safety.“For my part, I’ll obviously limit the number of customers in the shop and establish a one-way traffic flow to minimize contact between customers as much as possible,”explains Fabrice from Acanthus in Bègles.“Of course, I’ll wear a mask and wash my hands regularly between each order. My supply of hand sanitizer is ready!” he smiles.
There’s no question of compromising on the safety of customers and staff in Dijon either. But for large teams like Gilles Sonnet’s, it involves a whole logistical operation.“Right now, it’s impossible for all my employees to work at the same time, so we’ve set up two rotating teams of four to serve customers.” Because of this requirement, the store’s hours have been extended, and it will now be open on Mondays.
A trendy bouquet of "Red Charm" peonies created by BO Design Floral
Take orders remotely to prevent crowds from forming in the store
In addition to limiting the number of customers in the store, florists have also turned to taking orders remotely, either by phone or through their Sessile online store.“Initially, it can be a huge help if people place their orders in advance by phone or through our online store,”says Fabrice.“This allows us to fulfill their orders while avoiding crowds in the store.” In addition to hand sanitizer and masks, the store has also installed plexiglass partitions to limit contact.
“People may have to wait outside the store; in fact, I’ve put up some small signs in the window to let customers know they’ll need to be patient,”adds Gilles Sonnet.“For customers who don’t want to wait, it’s best to order by phone or through our online store.”
The lockdown also provided an opportunity to develop new habits.“For me, it’s simple: Sessile allowed me to start a new business by letting me sell my products online,”Olivier says.“Even though it was tough, the lockdown may have served as a wake-up call that helped me develop a delivery and curbside pickup service.”
Fabrice from Acanthus is ready to welcome you to the store!
Support from Loyal Customers During the Lockdown
A ray of hope during the lockdown—one that makes the idea of reopening easier to accept—is the daily support florists have received from their regular customers.“I have no doubt that customers will be there on Tuesday; they were already there throughout the entire lockdown. I received a lot of support on social media, and there was tremendous enthusiasm surrounding the shop,”recalls Fabrice from Acanthus. For Gilles Sonnet, ordering flowers during the lockdown was vital:“We needed to tell each other that we loved one another and to express a certain joy in life.”
Olivier of BO Design Floral echoes this sentiment:“Thanks to my online store, I was really able to keep my business going even while my studio was closed. And I was lucky enough to receive many orders from regular customers who hadn’t forgotten me—it really warms my heart!”
The Sessile team wishes Fabrice, Olivier, and Gilles—and all the florists in France —the best of luck as they get back to work!
Who are we?
Sessile champions the independence of artisan florists online. Founded in 2019 by six friends, Sessile brings together 500 florists committed to transforming the industry and enables flower delivery throughout France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. By breaking away from the traditional online catalog model, the network highlights each florist’s expertise and helps keep the art of floristry alive. Florists can pursue their passion and create more creative bouquets because they have greater freedom to offer seasonal flowers and, whenever possible, locally sourced flowers.